prime lenses RF mount zoom lenses RF mount prime lenses Canon lens codes On the back of Canon lenses is a six-digit code, which indicates where the lens was manufactured and when. Example of a code "UV1212" The first letter, 'U', represents the factory that made the lens. Three possible first letters are: {| | U | = | Utsunomiya |- | F | = | Fukushima |- | O | = | Ōita |- |} The second letter, 'V', represents the year of manufacture {| | A | = | 1960, | 1986, | 2012 |- | B | = | 1961, | 1987, | 2013 |- | C | = | 1962, | 1988, | 2014 |- | D | = | 1963, | 1989, | 2015 |- | E | = | 1964, | 1990, | 2016 |- | F | = | 1965, | 1991, | 2017 |- | G | = | 1966, | 1992, | 2018 |- | H | = | 1967, | 1993, | 2019 |- | I | = | 1968, | 1994, | 2020 |- | J | = | 1969, | 1995 |- | K | = | 1970, | 1996 |- | L | = | 1971, | 1997 |- | M | = | 1972, | 1998 |- | N | = | 1973, | 1999 |- | O | = | 1974, | 2000 |- | P | = | 1975, | 2001 |- | Q | = | 1976, | 2002 |- | R | = | 1977, | 2003 |- | S | = | 1978, | 2004 |- | T | = | 1979, | 2005 |- | U | = | 1980, | 2006 |- | V | = | 1981, | 2007 |- | W | = | 1982, | 2008 |- | X | = | 1983, | 2009 |- | Y | = | 1984, | 2010 |- | Z | = | 1985, | 2011 |- |} The next two digits represent the month the lens was manufactured. The last two digits are for internal Canon use. Therefore, the example (pictured) of UV0512 means the lens was made in the Utsunomiya, Japan factory in May 2007. See also Canon EF lens mount Canon RF mount References External links At the-digital-picture.com: Canon L Lens Series Information On Canon Website: